Fluid distribution control system



L. M. GRlswoLD 3,140,720

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July 14, 1964 L M GRISWOLD 3,140,720

FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1961 l2 Sheets-Sheet 2fSMINUTES LOCATION MINUTES LCIITION y y 5/ L l l j x.

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l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 14, 1964 1 M. GRlswoLD FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROLsys FiIed Jan. 24, 1961 July 14, 1964 L. M. GRlswoLD 3,140,720

FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1961 l2 Sheets-Sheet 427a w3/XV i l l l l l l zraji.

INVENTOR.

July 14, 1964 L. M. GRlswoLD 3,140,720

FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1961 l2 Sheets-Sheet 5A m A H6 En* I 5m/l0 mev la@ ,H

' INVENTOR.

ATTR/VE YS July 14, 1964 L. M. GRlswoLD 3,140,720

FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1961 12 sheets-sheet en 206 a? l l v i H TTU/ENE V5 July 14, 1964 L. M. GRlSwoLD 3,140,720

FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1961 l2 Sheets-Sheet 71%, n Il@ @am /94 g d W66 f H 64 l V ,44 /74 Wl INVENTOR. I, Le@ M rswod'111, i sld /fz /76 66 2 @MKM A Trae/v5 )1sA July 14 1954 l.. M.GRlswoLD 3,140,720

FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM l Filed Jan. 24, 1961 l2 Sheets-Sheet8 I INVENTOR.

July 14, 1964 L. M. GRISWOLD FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM FiledJan. 24, 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Tram/ frs July 14, 1964 l.. M. GRlswoLDFLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM l2 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Jan. 2 4.1961 INVENToR. Lee M Gra/@Zal July 14, 1964 1 M. GRxswoLD 3,140,720

FLUIDl DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1961 l2 Sheets-Sheet11 To VAL V55 /zo lL /66 DEA/N SUPPLY 66 542 if 25 244 546 25 DEH/N 5% lzl l y V La 544 540 T0 VAL V55 /66 :iL/PPL 5 4 I l 53a 552 DRH/N\ i 550.DRA/NN Y-Pnss j INVENTOR.

A TTFNE YS July 14, 1964 I.. M. GRlswoLD 3,140,720

FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SISTEM Filed Jan. 24. 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 12l :iig

Sl g ra VALVES IN VEN TOR. Le@ M. Griswvld A TTOPNE YS United StatesPatent "ice 3,140,720 FLUID DISTRBUTIN CONTROL SYSTEM Lee M. Griswold,Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Donald G. Griswold, Newport Beach, Calif.Fiied Jan. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 89,088 Z7 Claims. (Cl. 137-59) Thisinvention relates to automatic control means for cyclically controllingthe distribution of fluid, and more specically to a multiple controlunit for irrigation or lawn sprinkling systems which makes it possibleto schedule flow at any one station or area at any given hour, anynumber of times, and for any length of time, on a predetermined dailyschedule as desired.

Automatic irrigation systems and sprinkling systems for lawns and thelike generally include ditches supplying certain areas, or sprinklerheads distributed throughout the lawn or shrubbery area, and in manyinstances the areas to be watered are of such extent that the usualwater supply pipes are unable to provide suicient pressure and volume offlow to supply all of the ditches or to operate all of the sprinklerheads simultaneously. It is customary, therefore, to arrange theirrigation ditches or sprinklers in groups, each group being located towater a selected area. Usually each group of ditches or sprinklers issupplied by a single distribution pipe. The several distribution pipesare connected to a main supply line and controlled by separate Huidpressure-actuated diaphragm Valves, or solenoid-operated valves, thatare selectively and successively operated to allow ow of water to anyone of the distribution pipes. It is o-ften desirable in irrigatingareas to vary the time interval of watering to suit conditions or tosuit particular landscaping.

According to the present invention, water to any given area may besupplied at any time of the day or night for any desired time interval,from l minute to about an hour or more. It is also possible, with thepresent control unit, to plan a predetermined calendar schedule ofWatering, which may call for watering only on certain days instead ofdaily.

The fluid pressure-operated valves or solenoid-Operated valvescontrolling the flow of water to the ditches or sprinklers in differentareas are themselves controlled by a station selector, which in thepresent control is a disktype pilot valve, or a rotary selector switch,operated in response to schedules determined by program dials driven byelectric time clock mechanism to preselect the time at which a givendistribution pipe will be supplied with water and to predetermine thelength of time of supply of water to the given pipe. The present controlunits can be preset to determine the time or times of day or night andthe days of the week when the watering system is to be set intooperation. Often it is preferred to water during the early hours of themorning when the demand on the water mains is least. Any predeterminedwatering cycle may be repeated several times without interruption, ifdesired, within any 24-hour period, and from day to day.

Also, according to the present invention, the control units may be setto eiect watering on any preselected day or days of a Z-Week period,after which the whole cycle is repeated. For example, the control may beset to effect watering only on Monday and Thursday of one week andTuesday and Friday of the next week.

The station selector switch or pilot valve is subject to control by anelectric clock-driven program dial rigged to actuate a TIME or switchactuating arm to close a daily program switch to effect energization ofa rotarytype motor for intermittently turning the pilot disk or therotary switch, step by step, through a complete revolution or cycle ofoperation.

The present control also includes an interceptor, or shut-off valve, inthe control system for the line flow con- 3,143,72@ Patented July 14,1964 rol valves. This interceptor valve is a solenoid-actuated,three-way valve arranged so that it will effect automatic closing of anyopen ilow control valve independently of any control by the pilot valve.In other words, the actuation of the interceptor valve will causeclosing of any line ilow control valve which is then in an open positionpermitted by the operation of the pilot valve during a sprinkler cycle.In one system, the solenoid of the interceptor valve is connected in acircuit including a precipitation sensing device to energize thesolenoid, in response to a predetermined amount of precipitation, toactuate the interceptor valve to close any line flow control valve which1s open.

In another system, controlling the interceptor valve in response toprecipitation and/or power failure, the solenoid of the interceptorvalve is connected in a circuit, including the precipitation sensingdevice and a relay, and wherein the solenoid of the interceptor valveand the soienoid of said relay are both normally energized, but areadapted to be deenergized to actuate the interceptor valve to close anyline flow control valve that is open, in the event of a predeterminedamount of precipitation, or in the event of power failure, or both.

The invention also contemplates a series of manually adjustableswitches, one for each station, the switches being mounted on thecontrol panel, and each switch having timing indicia thereon. Eachswitch is electrically connected in a timing circuit and each may bemanually adjusted to determine the duration of sprinkling at thatparticular station, or to skip sprinkling, as desired. These switchesmay be set at any time, even during a sprinkling cycle, withoutinterrupting the cycle, and without changing the setting of otherswitches for other stations.

The present control also includes a l4-day calendar dial, by means ofwhich the days on which watering is to occur can be preselected bymounting program pins at appropriate points on the dial. One or morepins, associated with a daily program dial, are arranged to actuate, incooperation with the pins in the calendar dial, a cycle initiatingswitch.

The pilot valve, when used in a system, directs line pressure toselected water distribution control valves to eifect watering of area byarea, or station by station. Similarly, in an electrical valve controlsystem, a rotary switch elects operation of solenoid-actuated valves forthe same purpose. A conventional rotary motor drives, through a one-wayclutch, a shaft that advances the disk of the pilot valve or the rotaryswitch step-by-step, there being means provided to temporarily stop themotor between each step. In the event of power failure, the selectorcontrol (pilot valve) can be advanced by turning a dial manually torotate the pilot disk step by step.

The manual control may also be used to skip watering of certain areasand advance the cycle to any desired point. The 3-way interceptor Valveis arranged so that when it is deenergized, spent operating iluid from adistribution valve that is allowed to open is exhausted through it. Uponenergzation of the interceptor valve, line pressure is directed to thepressure chamber of the open line valve and cans-es it toclose withoutrequiring any actuation or change in position of the disk of the pilotvalve. The interceptor valve responds to electrical impulses receivedthrough the control switch. In another arrangement, the deenergizationof the interceptor valve, responsive to power failure, causes closing ofthe open line valve without requiring any actuation or change inposition of the pilot valve disk.

The program clock includes a rotatable clock-face or daily program dialdisposed within an opening in a panel. The dial has two sets of equallyspaced numerals from 1 to 12 positioned at its periphery to indicateeach hour a in a day and night, respectively. The dial also has a seriesof circumferentially spaced pin-receiving holes, one at each hournumeral and one between each two adjacent numerals.

The calendar wheel itself is provided with evenly spaced openingsadapted to receive pins that engage and actuate a switch arm. Thecalendar wheel is calibrated into fourteen divisions, including twoseries, each reading SUN., MON., TUE., WED., THR., FRI. and SAT., eachdivision including one of the aforesaid pin-receiving openings. A pin onthe clock or daily program dial is arranged to actuate, in cooperationwith a pin on the calendar wheel, a switch to initiate a watering cycle.

A toggle switch is mounted on the panel and, when in its OFF position,interrupts the circuit to both the motor operated pilot valve (or thesolenoid-operated control valves) and the solenoid-operated interceptorvalve. Manual actuation of the pilot valve is permitted when the switchis in either its ON or OFF position.

The invention also includes a timer which is automatically effectiveeach time a watering station control valve is opened, to determine theduration of the interval of opening of that valve.

One of the features of the invention is that the control makes itpossible to set a completely different watering schedule on the programdials for each station. Moreover, such schedule is adjustable to operatefrom one or more times each day, and on any day or days of a twoweekperiod. The entire two-week schedule and the length of ON time for anyvalve, on any day, is readily visible on the daily program and calendardials.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic,versatile fluid distribution control apparatus that will etect flowthrough preselected pipes, in predetermined sequence, and for selectivevariable time intervals, and which is also capable of adjustment to skipilow through certain pipes and to effect flow through other pipes forany desired time interval.

A more specific object is to provide a control unit for an irrigation orsprinkler system that can be pre-sot to effect flow through preselecteddistribution pipes to given areas, iii-predetermined sequence, forpredetermined time intervals, for preselected days, and which can bepre-set to skip watering on other days.

Another object is to provide an-automatic control for an irrigation orsprinkler system that will make it possible to set up schedules ofwatering programs for a two-week interval, which will repeatindefinitely until altered.

Another object is to provide an automatic control for an irrigation orsprinkler system wherein any desired number of watering cycles may beset up for different times on each day of the week.

Another object is to provide automatic control means for an irrigationor sprinkler system wherein a watering control valve can be closednotwithstanding that the station selector control (pilot valve or switchdisk) may be in a position that would normally effect watering.

Another object is to provide an irrigation or sprinkler control devicethat may be operated manually in the event of power failure, and whereinany given cycle may be advanced manually to omit distribution of waterto one or more areas, if desired.

Another object is to provide an automatic control unit for apilot-valve-controlled sprinkler system, which will Visually indicatethe position of the disk of the pilot valve aid the correspondingstation at whichy watering is taking p ace.

Another object is to provide an irrigation or sprinkler control unitthat will visually indicate a watering schedule set up for at least atwo-week period.

Another object is to provide an irrigation or sprinkler control unitwhich operates automatically to skip watering in the event of a powerfailure, or in the event of recipitation in excess of a minimum amount.

Still another object is to provide a novel timer switch which can easilybe changed to provide time controlling signals varying from one minuteto an hour or more, and which is automatically reset at the terminationof each timing operation. c

Still another object is to provide a novel uid distributing valve usefulas a pilot valve, and which is compact but still permits the control ofuid .to a large number of distributing conduits.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a heating elementdisposed in heat exchange relation with the pressure ducts between thepilot valve and the flow control valves, and a temperature sensing meanswhich senses the ambient temperature, and is effective to energize theheating element to prevent freezing of the water in the pressure ducts.

ther objects and features of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a control unit embodying theprinciples of the present invention applied to a lawn sprinkler controlsystem;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational View oaf the control box housing with thefront cover removed, and with a portion of the pedestal broken away toreveal the pilot valve housing;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the control box and its pedestalmounting, with the cover of the control box in position;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational View of the control box and pedestalof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view through thecontrol box, taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the pilot shaftdrive connection, taken on the line 6 5 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 7 7 ofFIG. 5, showing the daily program `dial and calendar dial, and themechanism associated therewith, in side elevation;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged perspective view of a tapered stop comprising anelement of the timer switch mechamsm;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of FIG. 7,showing certain elements of the driving mechanism for the daily programand calendar dials;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9 9of FIG. 7, showing further details of the dial driving mechanism;

FIG. l0 is a similar fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 10-10of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 11 11of FIG. 5, showing the station indicator and selector knob;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 12.12 of FIG. 5, showing one of the wafer switches of the main selectorswitch;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken onthe line 13 13 of FIG. 5, showing the other of the wafer switches of themain selector switch;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view through the station selector knob,taken on the line 11% 14 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through said onewafer switch, taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through saidother of said wafer switches, taken on the line 16 16 of FIG. I3;

FIG. 17 is an exploded front elevational viewV of the elements of thepilot valve;

FIG. 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 18 18 of FIG.17;

FIG. 19 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 19-19 of FIG.17, showing the driver for the pilot disk;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged plan View of the pilot valve disk taken on theline Ztl-20 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional view through the pilot disk, taken onthe line 21-2 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a horizontal sectional view of one of the pilot valvegaskets, taken on the line 22-22 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 23 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 23-23 of FIG.17, showing the porting in the fluid distributing plate of the pilotvalve;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the fluiddistributing plate, taken on the line 24-24 of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a plan View of another pilot valve gasket, taken on the line25-25 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 26-26of FIG. 26;

FIG. 27 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 27-27 of FIG.17, showing the porting in the tube plate of the pilot valve;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View through thetube plate, taken on the line Ztl-2 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the assembledpilot valve;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing theactuating mechanism for 'the cycle starting switch;

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing a pin in thetime or daily program dial moved slightly to the left orcounterclockwise of the position shown in FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 30 showing how the time dial pin ridesbeenath the starting switch actuating mechanism when there is no pin inthe calender dial;

FIG. 33 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in cross-section,showing the starting switch actuating mechanism;

FIG. 34 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a bore or openingin the time dial, taken on the line 34-34 of FIG. 32;

FIG. 35 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through oneof the time dial pins taken on the line 35-35 of FIG. 32;

FIG. 36 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 36-36 of FIG.35;

FIG. 37 is a plan view of the printed circuit board embodied in thepresent control unit;

FIG. 38 is a wire diagram of the cyclically operable means for effectingsequential opening of the flow control valves;

FIG. 39 is a wiring diagram of the electrical components of the controlsystem;

FIG. 40 is a fragmentary View, partly in perspective, showing theassembly of the pilot valve, interceptor valve, and precipitationsensing device;

FIG. 41 is a View similar to FIG. 40 showing a modification of theassembly shown in FIG. 40, wherein a power failure device has beenadded;

FIG. 42 is a fragmentary side elevation of the selector knob and mainselector switch, but showing a modification in which a third waferswitch is included for use in a system wherein the sprinkling valves areoperated electrically instead of hydraulically; and

FIG. 43 is a Wiring diagram for a system including the third waferswitch shown in FIG. 42.

With reference to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. lillustrating the application of the invention to a water sprinklersystem, the control unit is designated in its entirety by the referencenumeral lil. A Water main or supply pipe 12, together with a header anda plurality of branch conduits 14, supplies` water to a number ofsprinkler heads 16, there usually being a plurality of sprinkler headsin each branch duct. Each branch conduit 14 includes a flow controlvalve l, and the supply pipe 12 includes a master valve 2t), all of saidvalves being under the control of the controller lll, as will appearmore fully hereinafter. The system and control means shown provides fortwenty-three branch conduits 14.

It will be understood that 'the branch conduits 14 need not have asprinkler head connected therein, but may be arranged to discharge intoa ditch, as when the present control is associated with a system ofirrigation ditches.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the controller 10 includes a housing 24having a removable front cover 26. Within the housing there is mounted apanel 28, having a large circular opening 3) for receiving a time ordaily program dial 32, a smaller adjacent circular opening 34 forreceiving a calendar dial 36, an opening 38 for receiving a stationindicator and manual station selector knob 34, and a series of elongatedopenings 40, arranged in two tiers, for receiving individual stationtimers 5t). The panel 23 also has an opening 42 for a toggle controlswitch 42S.

A timing means 44 (FIG. 7) is attached to the back wall of the panel 2S,and includes a clockwork mechanism 46, and a timer switch 48, withsuitable driving connections, as will be more fully explainedhereinafter. Also mounted on the back wall of the panel is a series ofwatering station timers 50, a separate timer being provided for eachWatering station under the control of the controller lil. As is shown inFIG. 2 the timers 5t) are mounted so that the outer periphery of amanually operable disk portion thereof extends through an opening 40 inthe panel 2S, where it can be manually set to provide watering intervalsof various durations, as explained in greater detail hereinafter. To oneside of each opening 53, there is an indicator 51 carrying appropriatelegends to designate the location of the particular sprinkler controlvalve 13, or Watering station, corresponding to the adjacent timer 50.

A bottom wall 52 of the housing 24 supports a cyclically operable means54, which will be described in detail later. The housing 24 is carriedby a hollow vertical pedestal support 56 (FIGS. 3 and 4) adapated to bemounted upon a concrete base 58. A tubular conduit 60, passes throughthe vertical support 58 and the concrete base, and includes a` numoer oftubes 632 providing operating uid connections, one to each of the flowcontrol valves 18, and a single tube connection 64 to the master valve20. A pressure supply conduit 66 for operating fluid is connected withthe supply pipe 12 upstream of the master valve 20, and also passesthrough the base 58 and pedestal 56. The pressure supply conduit 66includes a strainer 68 at its inlet end for preventing the entry offoreign matter thereinto.

The vertical pedestal 56 also receives an electrical conduit 7i) forsupplying the power for operating the various electrical members withinthe controller 10.

With reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 11 to 16, inclusive, the cyclicallyoperable means 54 comprises an electric driving motor 72, mounted on asupport plate 73, which plate is carried by supports 74 connected attheir lower ends to the Wall 52. The supports 74 comprise spacingmembers having threaded bores for receiving screws which pass throughthe supp-ort plate 73 and the bottom wall 52, respectively.

The motor 72 is connected with a driving or output shaft 75 by a wellknown one-Way clutch, not illustrated herein but shown in FIG. 7 of theapplication of David E. Griswold, Serial No. 670,061, filed July 5,1957. The driving or output shaft 75 is connected with the upper end ofa driven shaft 76, as is more clearly shown in FIG. 14. The shaft 75 is0 shaped in cross section, while the shaft 76 is non-circular, as isbest shown in FIGS. 1l, l2 and 13. The upper end of the driven shaft 76is provided with an axial bore to receive the lower end of the shaft 75,and a non-rotatable connection bee tween the two shafts is formed by astaking operation, producing a deformation of the surrounding shaft 76,as shown at 77 in FIG. 11. The shaft 75 is rotatably mounted in abearing carried by the support plate 73, while an upper bearing plate 78includes a bearing for an intermediate portion of the driven shaft 76.The bearing plate 78 is held in position by a support member 8@ fastenedat its lower end to the bottom wall 52 of the housing, and by spacers onthe supports 74.

The lower end of the driven shaft 76 ,rotates within a bearing carriedby a bearing plate 82. Between the bearing plate 78 and the lowerbearing plate S2, there are provided a first wafer switch 86 and asecond wafer switch SS, the wafers and the lower bearing plate 82 beingsupported from the bearing plate 75 and being retained in spacedrelation by a pair of combined supports and spacers 90, each comprisinghollow spacer sleeves and a bolt 91 passing through the sleeves, thewafers and the bearing plates (FIG. A comb'med indicator dial andstation selector knob 54 also serves as a cam and is non-rotatablycarried by the driven shaft 76. The knob 34 is disposed between the topsupport plate 73 and the bearing plate 73.

Referring to FIG. l1, a set screw 92 extends radially through the knob84 to engage a at wall of the shaft 76 to prevent relative rotation. Theperiphery of the knob 54 includes twenty-four equally spaced, axiallyextending, arcuate grooves or notches 94. The surfaces between thenotches 94 are serrated, as shown at 96 in FIG. 7 to facilitate manualturning of said knob. The spaces between the notches 94 and above theserrations 96 are designated by numerals 1 through 23, while the space,aligned with the set screw 92, is designated OFF.

As will appear more clearly hereinafter, there is a notch or groove 94provided for each of the twentythree stations in the sprinkler system,and one additional groove for the OFF or inactive position of thedevice. As is shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the periphery of theselector dial knob S4 protrudes through the opening 33 in the panel 28,in a position where it can be manually operated, if desired, to changethe setting thereof at any time. An arrow-head 98 disposed above theopening S and pointing toward one of the numbers on the periphery of thedial 84, provides a Visual indication of the particular station that isreceiving water. 1f the word OFF on the knob S4 happens to be oppositethe arrowhead 98, this indicates that the sprinkler system is shut down,i.e., no watering station is in action.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 15, the first wafer switch 86 includes a pairof spaced terminals 111@ and 102 secured to the wafer S6. Secured to thedriven shaft 76, to be rotatable therewith, is an annular conductor ring104, having a cutout portion 106 in its periphery. The terminal 100 islonger than the terminal 102, whereby it contacts an unbroken surface onthe annular conductor ring 104 at all times. The terminal 1112, beingshorter, contacts a surface of the annular conductor ring adjacent theouter periphery, so that there is no contact with the conductor ringwhen the cut-out portion 106 moves into radial alignment with theterminal 102.

The second wafer switch 88, shown in FIGS. 13 and 16, carriestwenty-three contact elements 15S and one contact element 169. Twelve oftheseA contact elements are mounted upon the upper surface ofthe wafer88 and the other twelve are mounted upon the lower surface, the contactelements being arranged in circumferentially staggered relation, as ismore clearly shown in FIG. 13. A pair of contacts 1111 are non-rotatablysecured to the shaft 76, one .contact lying above the wafer 88 and theother below the wafer, as shown in FIG. 16. TheV contact element 169constitutes an input terminal, and is longer than the Contact elements1118, as is more clearly shown in PIG. 13, whereby to engage, in wipingcontact, the ring portion 0f one of the contacts 110, the upper andlower contact being electrically interconnected by a metal rivet 111, asshown in FIG. 16. Each `contact includes a tongue 112, which is adaptedto pass between and engage spaced surfaces on each of the contactelements 1118, as is shown in FIG. 16, for a purpose to be set forthhereinafter. The tongues 112 are disposed in alignment so that only onetongue at a time engages one of the contact elements 108.A

Referring to FIG. 11, a microswitch 114 is mounted onV bearing plate 82includes a downwardly projecting prong.

121 (FIGS. 12 and 42), adapted to be received within an opening in thebottom Wall 52 to prevent relative rotation. The lower bearing plate 82also includes a threaded extension which projects through an opening inthe bottom wall 52, and is secured by a nut 123. A pin 124 passesthrough a transverse opening in the end 122 of the shaft 76 for thepurpose of operating the pilot disk 2112, as is explained more fullybelow.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 17, 40 and 41, a pilot valvev 126 is mounted belowthe bottom wall 52 of the housing. 24 on a bracket 128 secured to thebottom wall by spacers and screws 129. The pilot valve` 126 includes acover 136 having a neck 132 with an axial extension 134-, which ispeened about the periphery of an aperture 136 in the mounting bracket123 (FIG. 17). The neck 132 has an axial bore 13S and a counterbore 139,the lower part of the cover being enlarged to provide a pressure chamber14h. The lower end of the axial bore 138 is counterbored at 142 toreceive a sealing ring 228, as will be pointed out more fullyhereinafter.

The pilot valve 126 also includes a tube plate 144, a gasket 146, and afluid distribution plate 148, these par-ts being held in assembledrelation by: six equally spaced screws 15@ having countersunk heads, andshanks which pass through the tube plate 144, gasket 146, distributionplate 148 and into threaded openings in the cover 130;

six equally spaced screws 152, which pass through alignedY openings inthe tube plate 144, gasket 146 and into threaded bores in thedistribution plate 148; and a pair of diametrically disposed screws 154,having llster heads, which pass through the distributor plate 148, and agasket to be received within threaded bores inv the cover 135.

The upper surface of the distribution plate 148` is provided with anelevated central portion having an annular channel 156 to form an outerring 157 and a raised valve seat 158. A portion of the annular channelV156 is-occupied by the gasket 160.

Referring to FIGS. 27, 28 and 29, the tube plate 144 includes a centralaxial drain aperture or port 162, the lower end of which is counterboredat 164 to receive a drain tube 166. An inner circle of uniformly spacedaxial apertures 16S surrounds the central aperture 162, and an outercircle of uniformly spaced apertures or ports 17@ surrounds the innercircle,- the apertures in the inner and outer circles being staggeredand disposed 15 apart. The outer ends of the apertures 168 and 176 arecounterbored at 172, to receive the ends of the tube connections 62leading to the flow control valves 1S and the end of the tube conection64 leading to the master valve 2t). The tube plate 144 also includes anaxial supply aperture 174, which receives the discharge end of thesupply conduit 66. The bottom surface of the tube plate 144 is recessedin an area surrounding the tubes 62, 64,V and 66, which recess is filledwith solder 178 to permanently secure the ends of tubes in thecounterbores in plate 144.

Referring to FIGS. 25, 26 and 29, the intermediate plate includes thecentral aperture 180, an inner circle of twelve uniformly spacedapertures 182, and an outer circle of uniformly spaced radiallyextending slots 184, the slots and apertures being staggered as shown inFIG. 25. The intermediate plate 46 also includes a circle of aperturesthrough which the screws 158 extend, and an outer circle of aperturesfor receiving the screws 152. An aperture 186 extends through theintermediate plate 146, and is adapted to be aligned with the supplyaperture 174 in the tube plate 144.

The distributor plate 148 (FIGS. 23, 24 and 29) includes twelve axiallyextending apertures or ports 188, and twelve apertures or ports 190, theapertures 188 and 198 being arranged alternately within a circle in thevalve seat 158. The valve seat 158 also includes a central aperture 192,and the bottom wall of the annular channel 156 includes an axial supplyaperture 194 which, as shown in FIG. 29, is axially aligned with thesupply aperture 186 and supply aperture 174. As will be observed fromFIGS. 23 and 24, the lower or discharge ends of the apertures 191) aredirected diagonally outwardly. By virtue of this arrangement, the outletends of the apertures 198 will lie on a circle concentrically disposedabout the circle formed by the outlet ends of the apertures 188. Thus,the outlet ends of the apertures 188 will align with the inner circle ofapertures 182 in the intermediate member 146, and the outlet ends of theapertures 190 will register with the iner ends of the radial slots 184,as more clearly shown in FIG. 29. As will be seen in the latter figurethe outer ends of the slots register with the outer circle of theapertures 170 in the tube plate 144.

The periphery of the distribution plate 148, outside the outer circle157, includes six uniformly spaced threaded apertures 196, to receivethe threaded ends of the screws 152.

The gasket 160 (FIG. 22) is provided with a cut-away section 198, toexpose the upper end of the axial supply aperture 194, whereby to permitthe iiow of pressure fiuid from the supply conduit 66 into the pressurechamber 140.

A pilot valve 288 is disposed for rotation on the valve seat 158. Thevalve 288 comprises a rotary disk 282 (FIGS. 20 and 21), having an uppercentral recess for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter, and an innercircle of ports 286 to receive lubricant material. A peripheral circleof twenty-three axial ports 208 passes through the disk. The lowersurface of the disk 282 includes a central bore 218, the inner end ofwhich joins a radial bore 212. An axial bore 214 connects the lowersurface of the disk with an intermediate end of the radial bore 212. Theouter periphery of the disk is cut away to provide a shoulder 216, whichreceives the lower end of a tight tting sleeve 218, soldered as shown at219 to said disk. The seleve 218 prevents the escape of fluid from theouter end of the radial bore 212.

The upper end of the sleeve 218 includes three equally spaced slots 228.A spring 222 (FIGS. 17 and 29) is received within the recess 284, thespring contacting the lower end of a disk operating shaft 224 having, onthe lower end thereof a driver with three radial fingers 226 receivedwithin the slots 220. The shaft 224 is rotatably mounted in the axialbore 138 in the cover member 138, and the -ring 228, received within thecounterbore 142, prevents loss of fluid along the shaft. A washer 230surrounds the shaft 224 and engages the O-ring 228 to retain it inposition. A connector 232 (FIGS. 17 and 18) provides a connectionbetween the lower end 122 of the shaft 76 and the upper end of the diskoperating shaft 224. The connector 232 includes a transverse threadedbore 234 to receive a threaded pin 235 which passes through a transverseaperture 236 in the upper end of the shaft 224, to couple the connectorwith the shaft. The connector also includes an axial aperture forreceiving the upper end of the disk operating shaft 224 and the lowerend 122 of the driven shaft '76, the upper end of the aperture having atransverse slot 240 to receive the pin 124 in the lower end 122 of theshaft 76, thereby establishing a driving connection through theconnector 232 from the driving motor 72 to the rotary disk 202. A collar242 surrounds the upper portion of the connector 232 to prevent axialmovement of the pin 124 in an obvious manner.

A mounting bracket 244 (FIG. 40), connected with the mounting bracket128, supports an interceptor valve '246 in close proximity with thepilot valve 126. The interceptor valve is of a well known three-Waytype, and includes a first fitting 248, a second fitting 250 and a thirdfitting 251. A solenoid 252 is adapted, when energized and deenergized,to actuate the interceptor valve 1n a well-known manner. The fitting 248is connected with the pressure chamber of the pilot valve by aconnection 254; the fitting 250 is connected with the drain tube 166;and the fitting 251 is connected with an outlet 256 leading to a pointof waste or disposal.

The timing means 44 (FIGS. 7 to 10) comprises a pair of spaced supportplates 258 and 261), retained in assembled and spaced relation by aplurality of spacer sleeves and screws 262. The front support plate 258carries a series of forwardly projecting supporting sleeves 264- bywhich the entire timing means may be supported from the back wall of thepanel 28 with the daily program dial 32 and the calendar dial 36registering with the openings 3() and 34, respectively.

A clock motor 266 is secured to the support plate 260 by a series ofspaced screws 268, the screws engaging and supporting a bearing plate273 on the rear side of the support plate 268. The clock motor 266includes reduction gearing 270, and a shaft 271 which extends through anopening in the support plate 268 and bearing plate 273, having a pinion272 on the end thereof. A second bearing plate 274 is disposed in spacedrelation and parallel with the bearing plate 273, said bearing platesbeing maintained in this relation by a series of spacer sleeves andscrews 276.

The pinion 272 engages a gear 278 on a shaft 280, having bearings in thebearing plates 273 and 274. The gear 278 engages a gear 282 mounted forrotation with a shaft 284 having bearings in the spaced support plates258 and 260, the bearing in the support plate 258 being in the form ofan arcuate slot 286, as more clearly illustrated in FIG. 5. A spring 288is supported on the plate 258 by a pair of screws 298, and engages anend of the shaft 284 projecting in front of the support plate 258 andurges the shaft in an upward direction to cause a pinion 292 thereon toengage a gear 294 mounted on a shaft 296 having bearings in the plates258 and 260. One end of the shaft 296 projects forwardly of the plate258 and carries a pinion 298 engaging a gear 380 connected with thedaily program dial 32.

The shaft 281) is connected with a sun gear 384 of a planetary gearsystem including planet gears 386 on a planet carrier, and a surroundingring gear 308. The carrier of the planet gears 306 is connected with acollar 310 rotatably mounted on the shaft 280, including a pinion 312 indriving relation with a gear 314 on a shaft 316.

The internal teeth on the ring gear 308 engage the planet gears 306, andexternal teeth 318 on the ring gear engage a pinion 320 on a hollowshaft 322 rotatably supported on a shaft 323 carried by the bearingplate 273.

The hollow shaft 322 also carries a ratchet wheel 324, cooperating witha pawl 326 pivoted at 328 on a mounting bracket 334, there being aspring 330 provided to maintain the pawl 326 spaced from the ratchetwheel 324. The bracket 334 also supports :a solenoid 332, which, whenenergized, moves the pawl 326 into contact with the ratchet wheel 324 tolock or prevent rotation 1 1 of the ratchet wheel and the ring gear 308connected therewith.

A switch wafer 336, FIGS. 7 and 8, is supported in spaced relation fromthe bearing plate 274 by a Series of spacers and screws 338, andincludes a cooperating lower rotor 340 and an upper rotor 342 connectedand rotatable with the shaft 316. Each rotor includes a tongue 344adapted to engage a series of contacts arranged in a circle andconnected with the upper and lower surfaces of the wafer, each contactincluding a contacting surface disposed in the path of rotation of oneof the tongues to be contacted thereby. The wafer 336 also carries acontact 348 which engages a circumferential portion of one of the rotorsto supply current thereto. The upper and lower rotors 340 and 342 areelectrically interconnected, and the tongues 344 are disposed onedirectly above the other. Twenty-four contacts 346 are provided, onehalf being connected to the upper surface of the wafer and the otherhalf being connected to the lower surface of the wafer, the contactsbeing disposed in staggered relation, as clearly shown in FIG. 8. Theextremity of the shaft 316 carries a collar 350 to which is attached ascrew threaded radially disposed stem 352. The wafer 336 carries a stop354, disposed in the path of the stern 352. A coil spring 355, FIG. 9,is connected at one end with the collar 310, and tends to rotate theshaft 316 in a counterclockwise direction, to bring the stem 352 againstthe stop 354. As shown in FIG. 7A, the stop is provided with a camsurface, and is mounted on a screw 356 (FIG. 7), whereby rotation of thestop effects axial adjustment along the screw and brings differentportions of the cam surface in the path of the stem 352, thus varyingthe distance from the starting position to the first contact engaged bythe tongues 344.

The daily program dial 32 (FIG. 2) carries a knob 357 in the form of anoblong parallelogram, which is screwed to the dial 32 to facilitatemanual rotation in a counterclockwise direction. Movement of the dial 32relative to the clock motor is facilitated by the slot bearing 286,which permits the shaft 284 to move against the force of the spring 288and allow the pinion 292 to ratchet relative to the gear 294. The frontface of the dial 32 carries a series of uniformly spaced indicia toindicate the twenty-four hours of the day, and is designed to completeone complete revolution every twenty-four hours. Such indicia consistsof two sets of numerals 1 to 12, one set for day and the other for nightAdjacent each numeral and between adjacent numerals are a series oftransverse or axially extending pin-receiving openings 358 toselectively receive program setting pins 360. Each opening 358 (FIGS.34, 35 and 36) is provided with an enlargement 362 intermediate andspaced from the ends thereof. The pins 360 are made of Nylon or otheryieldable material and comprise a head 364 and a shank 366, the shankbeing of a diameter to be received within the outer ends of an opening358, and having an enlarged portion 368 to be received within theenlargement 362 of the aperture. To facilitate insertion of the pin, aportion of the shank in the area of the enlargement 368 has an axiallyextending recess 370, slightly longer than the axial length of theenlargement 368, the recess having an arcuate bottom wall, and havingside walls which taper from a maximum at the midpoint to a minimum ateach end. It is evident that, with such structure, the side walls of therecess are yieldable and can be forced together to permit contractingthe diameter of the enlargement 368 when the pin is forced into one ofthe openings 358 and that the pin is permitted to expand when theenlarged portion 368 registers with the enlargement 362 in the opening,to positively retain the pin in position in the aperture.

The panel 28, FIG. 2, between the openings 30 and 34, is provided with apair of arrows 372, one pointing upwardly to the calendar dial 36, andthe other pointing downwardly to the daily program dial 32.

The periphery of the calendar dial 36 has a series of axially extendingopenings 374, which are identical in construction with the openings 358in the daily program dial 32, there being one aperture located inregistry with each daily indicia for a two-week period. The calendardial 36 is on a shaft 376, FIGS. 7 and 8, supported by bearings in thesupport plates 258 and 260. The calendar dial has fourteen, generallytriangular, peripheral notches 378 corresponding in position with theindicia of the days of the week appearing thereon. The daily programdial 32 carries a radial operating member 380, FIG. 32, which is adaptedto engage one of the notches 378 for each complete revolution of thedaily program dial to rotate and index the calendar dial one-fourteenthof a revolution, corresponding to one day of the week. The calendar dial36 also includes a detent device comprising a series of axiallyextending teeth 382 on an extension thereof adapted to engagecorresponding teeth 384 on a detent 386 (FIGS. 7 and 8). The detent 386is axially, slidably mounted on the shaft 376, and a spring 388, betweenthe detent 336 and the support plate 258, resiliently urgesthe teethsurfaces together. The detent includes a radial arm 390, having anaperture to receive a guide 392, permitting axial movement of the detentbut preventing rotation thereof. The detent teeth 382 and 384 (FIG. 7)are arranged with axially and angularly extending surfaces forming aone-way clutch, permitting rotation of the calendar dial 36 in onedirection but not in the other.

A microswitch 394 (FIGS. 30, 3l and 32), is secured to the plate 258,adjacent the dials 32 and 36, by a pair of screws 396.V The microswitchincludes a movable switch member 398 which is resiliently urged to itsoutermost position. An operating member 400 is resiliently mounted by aspring support 402 on the plate 258, the support 402 including a bracketengaged by the screws 290. The operating member is an elongatedstructure generally of U-form in cross section, having a pair of spacedupright walls 404 and 406. The upright wall 404 carries a first camsurface 408, bent at right angles therefrom and disposed in the path ofmovement of a pin carried by the calendar dial 36, as will be pointedout more fully hereinafter. The upright wall 436 provides an arm havinga second cam surface 410, disposed in the path of movement of a pin 360carried by the daily program dial 32. The microswitch 394 supports a camarm 412 pivotally mounted at 414, and having a cam surface 416 movedinto the path of movement of a pin 360 carried by the daily program dial32 when the cam surface 406 is actuated by a pin on the calendar dial36.

As seen in FIG. 3l, the cam surfaces 410 and 416 are so disposed that apin 360, in passing between them, will urge the cam surface 416 upwardlyand the cam surface 410 downwardly. The arm carrying the cam surface 410is slightly longer than the arm carrying the cam surface 416 for apurpose to be explained more fully hereinafter. The cam arm 412 carries,intermediate the ends thereof, an operating arm 418, the free end ofwhich engages the movable switch member 398. The arm 412 also carries anadjusting screw 420 engaging the operating arm 418 intermediate itsends, for adjusting the distance between the arms 413 and 412. A locknut 422 retains the adjusting screw 420 in adjusted position. In thenonoperating position, shown in FIG. 32, the resilient support 402 urgesthe operating member 400 to its uppermost position, which raises the armcarrying the second cam surface 410 clear of a pin 360 in one of theapertures 358 of the daily program dial 32. The cam surface 410 on thecam arm 406 engages the cam 416, thereby urging the cam arm 412 torotate in a clockwise direction against the force of the microswitchspring and forcing the movable switch member 398 to its uppermostposition shown in FIG. 32.

In operation, a pin 360 is placed in one or more of the apertures 374 inthe calendar dial 36 on the day or days amargo that operation of thesprinklers is desired, and one or more pins 36@ are placed in theapertures 358, at the desired hour or half hour, night or day, thatsprinkling is desired. The clock mechanism rotates the dial 32 in acounterclockwise direction, and every twenty-four hours, at midnight,the operating member 380 engages a notch 37S in the calendar dial toadvance it one step. So long as there is no pin in the calendar dial 36corresponding to the day of the week registering with the arrows 372,the operating member 460 will remain in its uppermost position (FIG.32), and the pins 360 in the daily program dial 32 will ride clear ofthe cams, as more clearly illustrated in the perspective view of FIG.33. However, should there be a pin 360 in one of the days in thecalendar dial 36 registering with the arrows 372, the pin 366) Willengage the cam surface 408 when the calendar dial 36 is stepped intoposition, and will move the operating member 401i to the position shownin FIGS. 30 and 31. This movement brings the cam surfaces 410 and 416directly into the path of movement of one or more pins 366 mounted inthe apertures 358 of the daily program dial 32. it should be noted thatthese apertures are arranged at one-half hour intervals. As the pin 360rotates, it moves between the cam surfaces 410 and 416, as shown in FlG.30, depressing the cam surface 416 and the operating member 400, andraising the cam surface 416, producing an upward movement of the movableswitch member 393. it should be explained, at this point, that themovement of the operating member 490, when engaged by a pin 360 in thedaily program dial 32, is not sufficient to cause actuation of themovable switch member 398 to make electrical contact. In the positionshown in FG. 30, the cam surfaces 410 and 416 are separated, whichcauses the movable switch member 398 to move toward its inoperativeposition. As` shown in FIG. 31, further counterclockwise movement of theprogram dial 32 permits the cam surface 416 to ride off the surface ofthe pin 360, While the cam surface 410 is still engaged by the pin,because of the longer length of the arm 406 as described above. When thecam surface 406 rides off the pin 360, the cam arm 412 is permitted torotate counterclockwise sufficiently to actuate the movable switch 3% tomake electrical contact to initiate the start of a cycle, as explainedmore fully hereinafter. Slight further movement of the program dial 32in the counterclockwise direction permits the cam surface 410 to rideoff the pin 366, whereby the resilient support 462, being stronger thanthe force acting on the movable switch member 39S, forces the operatingarm 404) upward to move the switch member 398 to its inoperativeposition to break the starting circuit.

The electrical circuit is shown in FIG. 39, wherein the leads aredesignated as L-l and L-2. From the lead L-1, there is shown a fuse 424,a conductor 426 to the toggle switch 428, and a conductor 430 from theconductor 426 to the clock motor 266, and conductors 432 and 434 to thelead L-Z. According to this hook-up, it is evident that the clock motor266 is always in operation, to maintain the daily program dial 32 andthe calendar dial 36 in operation. By grasping the knob 357 on the dailyprogram dial and turning the dial in a counterclockwise direction, theslotted bearing connection 286 for the end of the shaft 284 will permitratcheting of the pinions 292 and 294 to disconnect the drive betweenthese members and permit rotation of the dial relative to its drivingconnection. The detents 386, 382 and 384 in the calendar dial permitmanual setting thereof.

Closing of the toggle switch 428, which sets the device on automaticoperation, provides a circuit from the lead L-1, conductor 426, switch428, conductors 436, 437 and 438 to the input terminal 109 of the Waferswitch 38, and through the contactor 110 and tongue 112 (point 12)through the conductors 440 and 441 to the common terminal 442 of themicroswitch 394. Assuming that this microswitch 396 has been madeoperative by the mechanism described above, the movable member 398 ofthe switch is moved into contact with the terminal 444, causing a flowof current through the conductors 446, 44S, 456i, pilot motor 72,conductors 452 and 434, and lead L-2, to energize the pilot or drivingmotor 72, which causes rotation of the drive shaft of the wafer switches86, SS and the station selector knob 84, as indicated by the mechanicalconnections shown in broken lines. Initial movement of the pilot motor72 rotates the selector knob 84 and causes the cam roller 116 to bemoved out of its cam groove 94 to move the movable switch member of themicroswitch 114 to contact the terminal 458, whereupon electricalcurrent will flow from conductor 437 through conductor 454, terminal456, movable meniber of the microswitch 114, terminal 458, conductor450, pilot motor .72 and conductors 452 and 434, to maintain the pilotmotor in operation, even after the movable member 393 of the microswitch394 is rendered inoperative by movement of the pin 360 in the dailyprogram dial 32 to an inoperative position. As the shaft 104 of waferswitch 86 continues rotation in a clockwise direction, the conductingsurface thereof will engage the terminal 162, permitting flow of currentfrom conductors 426, 469, pump relay 462, conductors 464, 466, 468,conductor ring 164, conductors 470, 452 and 434, thus completing thecircuit through the pump relay to start a pump (not shown) in operation,should the system require the use of a pump for its operation. As themovable member of the microswitch 114 does not engage the terminal 472,the clutch 326 is inactive.

rhe pilot motor 72 continues operation for a part of a revolution untilthe cam follower 116 drops into the next cam groove 34 in the selectormember 84, thereby breaking the circuit to the pilot motor 72, andbringing the pilot motor to a positive halt, Without any overrunnirig. The tongue 112 in wafer switch 8S has now moved clockwise to the terminalindicated 13, which establishes a circuit through the conductor 47S tothe timer control 5i) for Station No. 1 which, as shown, is set in itsOFF position. In this position, there is a circuit established fromStation No. 1 timer control 50, conductors 480, 482 and 434 to theterminal designated 22 of the timer switch 336. This terminal 22corresponds to the zero time position of the timer switch, and a circuitis established through the rotors 346 and 342 and tongue 344, contact34S, conductors 499, 446, 443, 45t), pilot motor 72 and conductors 452and 434 to the lead L-2 to again energize the motor 72, which operationis effective to skip watering at Station No. 1, which was set to the OFFor no watering position.

As the pilot motor 72 continues operation, the cam follower 116 ridesout of the cam groove 94 and again moves the movable member of themicroswitch into contact with the terminal 458, again establishing thecircuit through the motor 72, as previously described, which continuesuntil the cam follower 116 drops into the next cam groove 94 in thestation selector knob S4 to break the circuit and to bring the movablemember of the microswitch 114 into contact with the terminal 472. Thepilot motor 72 is again instantly stopped with the tongue 112 of thecontactor in register with the point 14 of wafer switch S8, whichestablishes a circuit through the conductor 486 to the station timer 59at Station No. 2. As shown, this timer 50 is set for a 3-1ninutewatering interval (but could be set for an interval of l hour, ifdesired), which establishes a circuit through the conductors 488, 4949and 492 to the terminal designated 2t? in the timer switch 336. Thebridging of the terminals 456 and 472 of the microswitch 114 establishesa current through the conductors 454, 474, clutch 326, conductors 476,466, 468, annular conducting ring 104 of wafer switch 86, and conductors470, 452 and 434, which energizes the solenoid 332 to bring the pawl 326into engagement with the ratchet wheel 324, thus preventing rotation ofthe ring gear 368, whereby the clock motor 266 is eilective to drive,through the planetary gearing, the shaft 316 and the rotors 340 and 342,causing rotation thereof in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 8and 39. The terminals of the timer switch are so located that one of thetongues 344 engages the point 2@ in three minutes, which establishes acircuit through the rotors 340, 342, contact 348, conductors 439, 446,448, 45t), pilot motor 72 and conductors 452 and 434 to again energizethe motor, which breaks the circuit in the microswitch 114 to deenergizethe clutch 326, and to establish a circuit, under the control of thestation selector knob 84, which continues operation of the pilot motoruntil the cam follower 116 again drops into the next cam groove 94.

The deenergization of the clutch 326 deenergizes the clutch solenoid 332to permit the spring 33@ to withdraw the pawl 326 from the ratchet wheei324, whereby the coil spring 355, which was wound during the operationof the timer switch, is effective to return the shaft 3io to itsstarting position, wherein the stem 352 is brought against the stop 354.Operation in the above manner is repeated, and at each stop of the pilotmotor 72, the tongue 112 of the contact Il@ of the wafer switch 88 issuccessfully brought into engagement with the contact points numbered)i3 through 24 and 1 through ll2, placing into operation each of thesprinkling stations to eect a watering cycle.

Each station control includes a separate timer Si), which can be set forno watering or for intervals of 1, 3, 5, 1G, 15, 20, 30, 40 or 60minutes. As is shown in FIG. 39, each timer includes two sets ofindicia, and the diametrically opposite contacts are interconnected sothat either set may be used, but it should be understood that more orfewer time intervals can be used, and by removing the interconnectionsin the station timers S and by adding suitable connections to the timerswitch 336, it is possible to double the number of time intervalsavailable to be selected in an obvious manner.

It is to be noted that the point indicated at 60 minutes on the stationtimers 50 includes no wiring connection. It it is desired to operate astation for 60 minutes, the timer is set at this interval, and the timerswitch will be set into motion. After traveling for one hour, the rotors34! and 342 and the tongue 344 will reach the point indicated by 23, atwhich time there will be a circuit established through the conductors436, 493, through the timer switch, contact 348, and conductors 499,446, 443, 450', pilot motor 72 and conductors 452 and 434 to again startthe pilot motor 72 for movement to the next station. After all of thestations have been consecutively energized, the tongue 112 is returnedto the point 12, and the open microswitch 396 terminates the cycle.

During the stepping operation of the pilot motor 72, as described above,the pilot disk 202 is also periodically rotated. Assuming that, in thestarting position, the passages 216, 212 and 214 of the rotor disk jointhe connection 64 of the master valve 252 with the drain, the exhaust ofuid from the normally closed master valve permits the valve to close,while the application of fluid pressure through the ports 238 to theconnections 62 closes all twenty-three of the normally open tiow controlvalves 18. The valves 2u and 18 are of a fluid pressure type, well knownin the art, and a description thereof is unnecessary. Such valves arefluid pressure actuated, and are designed to be opened and closed by theapplication or exhaust of fluid pressure from pressure chambers therein.

As the pilot disk 262 is rotated, the exhaust ports 219, 2?. and 214 aremoved into register with the now control valve 13 of watering StationNo. I, to exhaust the fluid pressure from its chamber to allow openingof the valve, permitting tlow of water to the sprinkling heads ofStation No. 1, while tluid pressure, through the twenty-three openings208, apply uid pressure to maintain the other twenty-two llow controlValves 1S is closed and t0 apply fluid pressure to the master valve Ztlto open the latter valve.

It should be pointed out, at this time, that the valves 18 are of thenormally open type, requiring the application of duid pressure to closethem, and that the master valve Ztl is of the normally closed type,requiring the application of fluid pressure to open it. It is evident,from the above description, that the step-by-step rotation of the pilotvalve sequentially opens the twenty-three flow control valves i8, theduration of opening being governed by the timing mechanism describedabove. After one complete revolution of the pilot disk 262, the partsreturn to their initial position wherein the master valve 20 is closedand all of the ow control valves 13 are closed, and the system comes toa halt until again activated.

It will be understood that the valves I3 may be of the normally closedtype and the master valve 2u of the normally open type, if desired, withappropriate changes in the porting of the pilot disk 202 to eiect thesame control of the system.

FIG. 37 illustrates a printed circuit on a panel 494, showing theconductors in the upper surface in solid lines and the conductors in thelower surface in broken lines. As seen, these conductors connect withtwo series of terminals 495 arranged in a semi-circle, there being nineterminals in each group, which are interconnected. lt is evident thatmore or fewer than nine terminals may be provided, and that these may bearranged in a complete circle, if desired, in the form shown in FIG. 39.The panel 494 forms a support for the timer switches 50, which arearranged in two tiers, one below each set of terminals 495, in a mannerappearing in FIG. 2, and each of the terminals 495 is connected with acorresponding one of the terminals 346 in the timer wafer switch 336.The terminals 495 and their conductors are connected to a coupler, thesockets of which are shown at 496, there being eleven sockets, nine forthe reception of the conductors from the station timers 50, and twosockets to receive the conductors 498 and 499. The panel also includestwenty-three adjacent sockets 590, each of which is connected with aseparate station timer 50 in the panel.

Referring to FIG. 38, the cyclically operable means 54 may be assembledas a separate unit, and the twentythree conductors from the wafer switch88 are provided with a bank of plugs 502 which, in assembling thedevice, is adapted to be connected with the sockets 500. As shown inFIG. 38, the bank also includes plugs 504 on the ends of the conductors468, 440, 437, 44S, 4'74 and 452, which may be assembled in appropriatesockets, not shown, in a conventional manner.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a heating element 506 is disposed within thevertical support 56 in heat exchange relation with the connecting tubes62, 64 and 66, and is electrically connected, by a conductor 568, with atemperature sensing element 510, sensing the ambient temperature, andlocated within the housing 24. The temperature sensing element 510 isarranged to close an electrical circuit to the heating element 506, whenthe ambient temperature drops below the freezing point to preventfreezing of water in the connecting tubes.

The invention also provides for skipping watering in the event ofprecipitation in excess of a predetermined amount. Referring to FIG. 40,a precipitation sensor 512 includes a cup 514 housing a quantity ofsalt-containing earth or sand 516. A series of apertures 518 in the wallof the cup permits the overflow of excess liquid. A conductor 520, froma source of current, is connected with a first electrode 521 extendingthrough the bottom wall of the cup 5 l4 and embedded in the sand 516. Abranch conductor 522 is connected with a movable switch element 524 of arelay 52.5, and a conductor S26 from the relay is connected with thesolenoid 252 of the interceptor valve 246. A second electrode 52S,spaced from the rst electrode 521, extends through the bottom wall ofthe

1. A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING A WATERSUPPLY PIPE, AND A PLURALITY OF BRANCH CONDUITS CONNECTED THEREWITH, ANDA FLOW CONTROL VALVE IN EACH BRANCH CONDUIT, COMPRISING: CYCLICALLYOPERABLE MEANS TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID FLOW CONTROL VALVES IN APREDETERMINED SEQUENCE; AND A TIMING MEANS, INCLUDING A MOTOR-OPERATEDTIMING SWITCH, AND A SEPARATE TIME SELECTOR CONTROL DEVICE ASSOCIATEDWITH EACH VALVE AND CONNECTED TO SAID SWITCH TO SELECTIVELY SET THEDURATION OF THE PERIOD THAT ITS ASSOCIATED VALVE REMAINS OPEN, SAIDTIMING MEANS BEING STRUCTURALLY INDEPENDENT OF AND OPERABLY CONNECTEDWITH SAID CYCLICALLY OPERABLE MEANS.